Cuthbertson crowing for Cowboys challenge

Correspondent

Leeds forward Adam Cuthbertson is excited about taking on North Queensland in the World Club Challenge and believes the Super League sides have a point to prove this year.

The Rhinos meet the Cowboys at Headingley on February 21, while St Helens take on the Roosters and Wigan play Brisbane.

Cuthbertson, who joined Leeds last year, knows the 2015 NRL grand final winners well after playing against them for nine seasons in Australia.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” he told Love Rugby League.

“It’ll be interesting to see if the Cowboys can climatise when they get over here. It will be freaking hot over there.”

Cuthberton has played in the World Club Challenge once before, seven years ago when he was part of the Manly team that defeated the Rhinos 28-20 on UK soil.

The front-rower is expecting a hard contest against North Queensland, who feature Golden Boot winner Jonathan Thurston and rising Queensland Origin star Michael Morgan in the halves along with a host of internationals.

“It’ll be interesting,” Cuthbertson said.

“It’ll be great to play against an NRL team again and get this opportunity to play in another World Club Challenge.

“I’ve been in one before but it was ’09 I was last in one so, yeah it’s just a really great opportunity for us to display our brand of football throughout the world.”

Last year all three Super League clubs lost their games against NRL opposition, with 2014 champions St Helens heavily beaten by South Sydney in the final match.

Cuthbertson, who helped Leeds to a treble in his first year at the club, feels that Super League as a whole has a point to prove after the three losses in 2015.

“Not just speaking for those teams, but I’m sure there’s a bit of disappointment around Super League after going down three games to zip,” the 30-year old admitted.

“There’s a lot at stake and we’d like to show that we can handle anyone really.

“It’s just about is getting out there and playing our game to the best of our ability and executing really well, and taking it really to them.”